Notebook: Demps out of boot and probable

Florida coach Urban Meyer declared junior running back Jeff Demps probable for Saturday's showdown with Alabama. Demps, UF's leading rusher at 367 yards, re-aggravated a foot injury last Saturday against Kentucky. X-Rays revealed a sprain. Demps wore a protective boot earlier this week. "He’s out of the boot today," Meyer said during Wednesday's Southeastern Conference coaches teleconference. "He's had very limited practice. We're counting on him for Thursday, and even if we have to go out with him Friday and practice. … It's probable he’ll play." Demps first injured the foot when an offensive lineman stepped on it during his 26-carry performance against Tennessee. Demps practiced through the pain last week and carried the ball eight times for 57 yards against Kentucky. Senior running back Emmanuel Moody said he anticipates Demps being back Saturday. "We really expect him to be back, but if he's not there then we're going to have to carry the load," Moody said. Moody, who had 10 carries for 46 yards against Kentucky, said he's fully recovered from a thigh bruise he suffered in practice. The injury occurred when freshman defensive lineman Dominique Easley's knee knocked into his quad muscle. "This is the healthiest I've been all season," Moody said.

Rainey's status

Though Florida receiver Chris Rainey made a plea deal to reduce felony aggravated stalking charges to a misdemeanor earlier this week, Meyer said Rainey's status remains unchanged. Rainey has been off the team since his arrest Sept. 14. "I haven’t even thought about it because our focus is on Wednesday’s practice," Meyer said. "At the appropriate time, I’ll sit down and have that discussion.”

Tackling better

Tackling has taken priority in practice this week to prepare for Alabama. In last December's SEC title game, Alabama gashed Florida for 251 yards rushing behind talented backs Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. "We missed like 22 tackles in the game," Florida freshman linebacker Jelani Jenkins. "So that's been a big part of this week is tackling, wrapping up, driving your feet and not lunging at people. I think that's some of the things we're really stressing in practice this week because tackling was a problem last year." Linebackers/special teams coach D.J. Durkin said tackling is a point of emphasis in practice every week. "Obviously we've got a big challenge this week, bigger than most with those two backs (Ingram and Richardson)," Durkin said. "It's going to be a point of emphasis. It's going to be a huge part of this game."

Nixon's switch

Florida sophomore offensive lineman Xavier Nixon said he wasn't given a reason for why coaches decided to switch him from left tackle to right tackle before the Kentucky game. Nixon said the coaches first approached him about the move in practices last week. "They told me about the switch," Nixon said. "It wasn't really a hard transition." At left tackle, Nixon protected quarterback John Brantley's blind side. Right tackle is a less glamorous spot, but at this point, Nixon said he's more concerned about getting the calls down. He's only played left tackle since he started playing organized football. "If it's what's best for the team, if it's what gets you a W at the end of the day, it's all that matters," Nixon said.

Tricky play

Durkin said Kentucky receiver Chris Matthews was left wide open on his fake-field goal catch for a touchdown because Florida was going through its own substitution issues on the play. "We were late getting our own substitutions on the field, so we weren't paying attention to their substitutions, so we missed it," Durkin said. "That's on the coaches on the sidelines and up in the box. We always watch but we were late getting guys in and out, so we were more worried about us having 11 on the field before we saw that the play was run." Asked if it was a cheap way to score a touchdown, Durkin responded: "No comment on that. It was a good play for them. They scored a touchdown on it so we've got to be prepared for that and that's on us to be prepared for that and see it and you know, play it." Durkin said that running back Mike Gillislee will return kickoffs if Demps in unavailable.

Meyer for hire

Alabama coach Nick Saban said he has "a tremendous amount of respect" for Meyer. But at one point, Saban passed on a chance to have Meyer work for him. In 1990, when Meyer was a quarterbacks/receivers coach at Illinois State, he called Saban to ask if he had any openings on his staff at Toledo. Meyer ended up having a long conversation with Saban's wife, Terry. "She actually did the interview," Saban said. "She told me this guy, this really interesting, articulate, top-notch guy was interesting in working at Toledo." Saban said he was busy making the transition from his previous job with the Houston Oilers to Toledo and never called Meyer back. "That was probably one of the biggest mistakes that I ever made," Saban said.